About Us

LEARNING ABOUT US

Excavating Ice Age Sites Studying Lifeways

The Institute for Archaeological Studies (IAS) is a non-profit organization, dedicated to both research and education. IAS works almost exclusively with public agencies, colleges, and universities. The professional archaeologists and paleontologists within the organization, however, help to connect individuals and private businesses with the appropriate specialists.

Our specific areas of expertise include paleoarchaeological resources, prehistoric and protohistoric sites, early historic occupation and use areas, and Asian sites of rural and urban contexts. We investigate cultural areas that are underwater, partially saturated, or fully terrestrial.

                Observing and documenting the material from a past
                culture is part of the archaeologist's job. Some tool
                types can identify populations that are no longer in
                the area, or groups that may no longer exist at all.

Students, the general public, and other professionals work on IAS projects. Our field protocolincludes wearing hair nets and gloves, to avoid contamination of the site areas. But the results are worth it. Regardless of the initial research design, science determines the results of each project.

            Even unidentified populations may leave clues
            behind that tell us about their lives.   The archaeological
            record, including objects such as this pendant of fired clay,
            tells a detailed story.

Company history

This organization began as the Ceramics Analysis Laboratory, at Portland State University, Department of Anthropology. The group expanded into multiple types of field work and laboratory analysis, and became the Institute for Archaeological Studies over 20 years ago. The board of directors is diverse, representing archaeology, anthropology, ethnology, paleontology, geology,
and more.

The Institute for Archaeological Studies

Archaeology for History's Sake